Page 118 of Indecent Ventures

At some point, the doctor comes in. He tells each he’s going to examine them.

Skylar looks at me. “Get north of our shoulders. Now. Don’t even think about heading south.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I stand behind each when the doctor examines them. He literally sticks his hands inside them. I’m not sure whether he has the best job in the world or the worst.

I send an update to the family chat.

Me: Reagan is already eight centimeters dilated. Apparently, that means she’s close. Skylar is six. Carter and Lance, how much longer? Darian? Harley? Are you there? Anyone?

* * *

JADE

I haven’t slept well since I walked out of Aunt Darian and Jackson’s house. Truth be told, I can’t sleep without Collin anymore. I miss him.

I toss and turn for an hour in the middle of the night. I can’t fall back asleep and decide to check my social media on my phone.

I pick up my phone and see a frantic text from Collin that both Reagan and Skylar are in labor. I better head to the hospital to see if they need help. I quickly throw on leggings and a sweatshirt and leave for the hospital.

Nothing prepares me for what I see when I arrive. I poke my head in the doorway and see Collin frantically sprinting back and forth between the two of them. It’s like a crazy scene out of a rom-com movie.

Reagan screams, “Collin, I need another pillow.”

He runs around until he finds one in the closet. He helps her lean forward and sets it behind her.

Skylar yells, “Collin, I need more water.”

He grabs her empty pitcher and runs to the bathroom to fill it, brings it back to her, and then pours it into her cup. He even moves the straw to help her sip it.

Just as he finishes that, Reagan screams, “Here comes another one. Collin, I need your sandpaper man hands.”

He runs over to her bed. She’s on her side yelling through her contraction. He goes to her back. With one hand he holds hers, with the other he rubs and applies a lot of pressure to her lower back. “Just breathe. You’re so brave. You’ve got this.” He rubs her until it ends.

Then it’s Skylar’s turn. He seems to know that he’s not needed in the back for her. He comes to her front. He offers one hand for her to squeeze, and with the other, he rubs her belly. Skylar squeezes him throughout her contraction.

“You’ve got this, Sky. Just squeeze away the pain.”

I should go in and help, but I can’t manage to do anything other than watch him continue to go back and forth helping my cousins through their labor.

If there was ever a doubt in my mind, it’s gone now. I’m in love with him. I swore it would never happen to me, but it has. I’m madly in love with Collin Fitz.

For a solid six or seven minutes, I observe the madness, falling for him just a little more every time he does something for them.

At some point, he notices me leaning on the doorframe. He immediately stills, simply staring at me. I stare back at him. Eventually I mouth, “I love you too.”

A huge grin spreads across his gorgeous face. He strides toward me, and I do the same toward him. Our bodies crash together as our mouths meet for the most perfect kiss I’ve ever been gifted. He wraps his arms around me and picks me up.

I run my fingers through his hair, keeping him as close to me as I can.

The rest of the world and the crazy circumstances fade away. I’m back in his arms and he’s back in mine. I feel at peace for the first time in days. Maybe ever.

I can’t believe how much I’ve missed being close to him in the past few days. It feels perfect. It feels like home. I know this is right. We’re right.

“If you two fuck in front of us while we’re in labor, I’ll never forgive you.”

We both smile as our lips part, and I slide down his body back to the ground. We turn to Reagan. She winks at us. “Though maybe it would be a nice distraction. Carry on.”

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